Richmond daily local headlines: Pedestrian-death charge, pothole blitz, parks plan, and weekend closures
Richmond, VA – March 5, 2026 – Charges filed in a January pedestrian death, plus pothole repairs, park planning, and local weekend race closures.
Pedestrian-death case: driver charged
Richmond Police say a dump truck driver has been charged in connection with a January crash that killed a pedestrian near the Carver Elementary area. Investigators say the man who died was crossing with a walk signal when he was struck at the West Leigh Street and North Harrison Street intersection. Police said the driver later surrendered after a grand jury indictment.
Roads: the city’s ‘Pothole Palooza’ repair blitz
City officials rolled out a three-week pothole push after back-to-back winter storms hammered local streets. The city said multiple crews are working daily, with a goal of knocking out hundreds of repairs per day as they try to catch up on a surge of new damage.
Officials also urged residents to keep reporting trouble spots through the city’s 311 system so crews can prioritize areas with the most complaints and the biggest safety risks.
Parks: master plan update opens for final public feedback
Richmond is updating its parks master plan for the first time in decades, with city staff highlighting a long-range focus on maintenance, staffing, and closing access gaps. The draft emphasizes improving existing parks while also identifying where new green spaces may be needed, including a heavier focus on Southside.
A public comment deadline is set for Friday, March 6.
Weekend heads-up: River City Half and 5K closures
Drivers should expect early-morning road closures and no-parking zones on Saturday, March 7, for the River City Half Marathon and 5K. Organizers say closures start as early as 5 a.m. in some areas, with most streets reopening by around midday. Expect pinch points near the University of Richmond start area and along the James River corridor, including the Boulevard Bridge closure window.
Sports & city life: Flying Squirrels promo schedule released
The Flying Squirrels released their promotional calendar for the first season at CarMax Park, including fireworks nights, giveaways, themed community events, and charity-linked jersey auctions. The team also announced a March 7 start for individual ticket sales.
Sources
- https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/thomas-clements-charged-dump-trump-pedestrian-crash-march-5-2026
- https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/03/04/richmond-launches-pothole-palooza-repair-winter-storm-damage/
- https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/03/05/richmond-overhauling-parks-master-plan-first-time-decades/
- https://www.vpm.org/news/2026-03-05/2026-river-city-half-and-5k-road-closures-no-parking-zones
- https://www.wtvr.com/sports/flying-squirrels-promotional-schedule-march-5-2026
